Positioning apparatus for transferring pallets

Abstract

A pallet positioning apparatus including a bed having guide members mounted thereon which define a pallet transfer path. A pallet traveling along the guide members includes a positioning pin on the lower surface of the pallet. A positioning lever rotatably mounted on the bed includes a roller and a member having a base surface opposite the roller mounted at an end of the positioning lever. The lever is biased to engage the pallet positioning pin for positioning the pallet on the guide members. The positioning lever is rotatable for releasing the pallet positioning pin. A clamping device clamps the pallet in position after the positioning pin has been engaged to fix the pallet in position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pallet positioning apparatus, for use in a linear station machine or the like, comprising: a bed having an upper surface; guide members defining a pallet transfer path mounted on the upper bed surface; a pallet having a lower surface including means for cooperating with said guide members to allow said guide members to guide said pallet travelling along said guide members, and a positioning pin mounted on the lower surface of said pallet; means for advancing said pallet along the pallet transfer path; a positioning lever rotatably mounted on said bed and having a longitudinally extending axis located intermediate said guide members, a roller mounted at the end of said positioning lever, and a member having a base surface mounted on said positioning lever adjacent said roller and defining a space therebetween dimensioned to receive said pallet positioning pin; biasing means for biasing said positioning lever to rotate for engaging said positioning pin on the lower surface of said pallet between said roller and said base surface opposite said roller for stopping said pallet on said guide members; and means for rotating said positioning lever to disengage said positioning pin to release said pallet. 
     
     
       2. A pallet positioning apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising clamping means mounted on said bed for clamping said pallet in position after said positioning pin has been engaged to fix said pallet in position on the pallet transfer path.